Major crackdown on illegal imports into Zimbabwe

Published: 03 September 2017 (929 Views)

THE Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) is now enforcing post importation audits in a massive crackdown on shops and companies suspected of selling smuggled goods.This is part of strategies the revenue authority is implementing to curb smuggling amid indications that goods were being smuggled prejudicing the State of millions of dollars.

Responding to questions from The Sunday Mail last week, ZIMRA Corporate Communications official Mr Canisio Mudzimu said, "Smuggling is an illegal and underground activity, which destroys the economy. The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) has put in place several measures to curb smuggling and these include post-importation audits which are done to verify whether imported goods were properly cleared for Customs purposes."

Mr Mudzimu implored people to report cases of smuggling as whistleblowers will also receive benefits from ZIMRA for unearthing any rot.

"The authority also runs a Whistleblower's Facility under which an individual who provides specific information which results in the recovery of revenue will be entitled to 10 percent of the recovered amount."He said ZIMRA continues to implement lifestyle audits for its staff despite resistance by some staff who argued that the exercise was a violation of their privacy.

Mr Mudzimu went on, "Asset declarations and internal lifestyle audits on members of staff (who include both management and non-managerial employees) are part of strategies that ZIMRA employs to curb corruption. Internal lifestyle audits are meant to identify any cases of unjust enrichment through corruption, which are appropriately dealt with in accordance with the Authority's Code of Conduct and the laws of the land.

"Internal lifestyle audits are, therefore, not targeted at any specific section of ZIMRA employees but are a routine management tool which is used to flash out corrupt elements in the organisation.

"We continue to spread the message that where tax and duty corruption is perpetrated, the State is defrauded of revenue for illegal personal gain. As such, ZIMRA urges the nation to shun corruption and to report any cases of corrupt activities on its anti-corruption hotline, whose details are provided below."

He added, "Any ZIMRA official who fails to adhere to laid down procedures is disciplined in accordance with the ZIMRA's Code of Conduct and the laws of the land."